NCJ Number
65060
Date Published
1979
Length
92 pages
Annotation
PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS ARE REPORTED FROM A SEMINAR CRITIQUING THE AUSTRALIAN ROYAL COMMISSION'S REPORT ON NEW SOUTH WALES PRISONS.
Abstract
THE ROYAL COMMISSION'S REPORT (THE NAGLE REPORT) DOCUMENTED CORRECTIONAL OFFICER BRUTALITY AGAINST INMATES, OPPRESSIVE DISCIPLINARY POLICIES, INADEQUATE VISITATION POLICIES, AND A GENERAL LACK OF CONSTRUCTIVE INMATE PROGRAMS IN NEW SOUTH WALES PRISONS. ATTEMPTS BY THE CHIEF CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATOR TO COVER UP PRISON ABUSES AND INADEQUACIES WERE ALSO NOTED BY THE COMMISSION. THE NAGLE REPORT INCLUDES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE PRISON SYSTEM. ONE SEMINAR PRESENTATION NOTES REACTIONS TO THE NAGLE REPORT FROM VARIOUS INTEREST GROUPS, FROM THE PRISONERS ACTION GROUP, WHICH BELIEVES THE COMMISSION DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH IN CONDEMNING THE PRISON SYSTEM AS AN INADEQUATE RESPONSE TO THE CAUSES OF CRIME, TO THE PRISON OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, WHICH BLAMED MANY OF THE PRISONS' PROBLEMS ON EXCESSIVE INMATE DEMANDS. THE POSITIONS OF THESE TWO GROUPS REGARDING THE NAGLE REPORT ARE PRESENTED IN DETAIL BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH. THE LACK OF RESEARCH ON CORRECTIONAL ISSUES IS ADVISED BY ONE SPEAKER TO BE A MAJOR IMPEDIMENT TO RATIONAL AND LONG-RANGE PRISON REFORM. THE SPEAKER SUGGESTS TOPICS FOR RESEARCH AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. A PRESENTATION DEALING WITH THE FUTURE OF CORRECTIVE SERRVICES IN NEW SOUTH WALES RECOMMENDS THE EXPANSION OF ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT AND THE USE OF A SOPHISTICATED CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR INMATES THAT WILL NOT ONLY AID IN PROVIDING EFFECTIVE SECURITY BUT ALSO IN THE PROVISION OF REHABILITATION PROGRAMS TAILORED TO INMATE NEEDS. SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS' COMMENTS ON THE PRESENTATIONS ARE REPORTED. (RCB)